Leola Adams

My grandmother was a pillar to many. She started her journey July 4th 1930 born to humble beginnings in Shepherd, Texas. She was the eldest child and helped raise her brothers and sisters. She married Odell Adams Sr. at the age of 15. Soon after she brought Odell Adams Jr and Katherine Adams into this world. In the early 1960's she left Houston to pursue better opportunities in California. She never forgot about her family back in Texas, traveling back and forth often. She always had a sister, brother, niece or nephew she was looking out for. To my Grandmother, making friends into family was as easy as making flour into bread. Everyone she met was touched by her kindness and over whelming capacity for love. Whether you were blood or not, black or white; there was nothing stopping her from winning your heart. I could never claim her as my own, I could never say I'm her only grandchild. For all of you, she is grandma, she is sister, she is mother and she is your friend. From my side of the fence I have gained a family so big just by the sheer existence of my grandmother Leola Adams. Leola Adams (Johnson) passed away july 18th, 2014 to join her daughter Katherine Flanagan (Adams) (1949-1988) and son Odell Adams (1947-2011) in restful peace. She was proceeded by her mother Girty Lee Yates , her brothers Guy Yates, Harold Yates and her sister Ann Yates. She leaves to mourn her grand children Trinette Flanagan, Teri Clay, McKinley Henderson, great-grand children Reginald Griffin, Aloysius Dennis, Thalia Griffin, Kimberly Flanagan, Kamerin Henderson, Aynia Henderson and Saharra Henderson. Her brothers Lee Otis Yates, Walter Yates, David Yates and Samuel Yates, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, god-children and friends. ~Trinette Flanagan~ To live in the hearts of those we leave behind, it not to die~ Thomas Campbell, "Hollowed Ground"